Accident and Incident Reporting, Search and Rescue, and Security
Accident and incident definitions
Annex 13 defines an accident as an occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft in which a person is killed or seriously injured, the aircraft sustains substantial damage, or the aircraft is missing or inaccessible. An incident is an occurrence, other than an accident, that affects or could affect safety. A serious incident is an incident involving circumstances indicating a high probability of an accident. The distinction matters because accident investigation and occurrence reporting follow different processes.
Reporting and SAR
Under EU occurrence reporting rules, mandatory occurrences are reported to the competent authority; many reports are due within 72 hours, with shorter deadlines for serious incidents as specified nationally. The pilot also informs the operator or owner. Annex 12 covers search and rescue: alerting service, distress and urgency phases, ELTs using 406 MHz for satellite alert and 121.5 MHz for homing, and survival equipment. Annex 17 covers security, including unlawful interference, screening and access control.
Worked example
A pilot lands with the gear retracted. The propeller, firewall and lower fuselage are substantially damaged, but no one is hurt. This is an accident because of substantial damage, not merely an incident. The pilot must notify the authority or accident investigation body and submit the required occurrence report. The absence of injuries does not downgrade the event.
Traps
Do not confuse a serious incident with an accident; a serious incident is still an incident. Do not assume a report is unnecessary because the flight was private. Do not use 121.5 MHz as the primary satellite alert frequency; 406 MHz carries the digital alert. Security delays and unlawful interference are not the same as an accident.